This week (training camp) can best be described as the most stretched, exhausting, revolutionary, seven days of my life yet. There's a first time for everything. My first time setting up a tent on my own and eating from a camp fire, my first time to a southern state, my first time seeing a "lightning bug" and my first time to absorb the revelation that I am the answer. I know what you're thinking, "Pretty cocky statement…" but I promise, I don't mean it in a 'I'm-gonna-go-to-different-countries-to-save-the-world-cause-I-think-I'm-that-awesome' way. The only thing I've done is say 'yes'. That's the only thing I've had the capacity to do. God has filled in all the rest of the gaps.
Training camp has rocketed me into a new level of excitement for jumping outside of my home. Outside of myself. From standing on chairs and belting that I am a woman who will walk in God's truth to eating my food criss-cross-apple-sauce on the floor separately from the gentlemen. I don't think I would have been able to embrace either of those things without the grace of God; my country and my culture sometime scream the opposite. The last seven days, I have eaten a quarter of the amount of food I usually shove into my mouth, hoisted a 30 lb backpack onto my back a few times a day everyday, have hiked to a new sleeping space everyday and have gone 5 days without sleeping in a bed. None of these are complaints. They are all things that are very unlike my normal life style. My normal life style includes waking up out of a comfy padded mattress, going to a job at which I get delicious coffee whenever I desire and when I clock out I get to do whatever I want with my best friends and family. For the next year, I will not have that.
I am so glad that God has set aside this week to put me in my place. To help me realize that a lot of people live the exact opposite way I live. Their cultures are the complete mirror image of mine. It's not wrong, just different and I want to know more. I am completely and undeniably blessed. I knew that before…but now I realize how much taking action is important. Someone said that gratitude has the ability to spill over in powerful ways. That maybe when we go into other countries that the things we are grateful for will show and other people will have the ability to step out of hopelessness because of it. Maybe not only will our demeanor overflow with thankfulness but our actions will too. I want my actions to constantly hum a song of God's sufficiency in my life.
